Best Eye Creams

A woman typically starts to develop lines around her eyes in her 30s. It's important to use eye creams that add moisture and volume to the delicate skin around the eyes. Look for eye creams with one of three ingredients: retinoids which stimulate cell growth, peptides which boost collagen production and antioxidants, which fix free radical damage caused by sun damage and other environmental factors.

The Secret to Anti-Aging Products: Sticking With It

I'm back on Retin-A after a couple years off, not because I have acne, but because I love how Retin-A makes my skin look and feel so great after just a couple weeks of use. Retin-A, you'll recall, was THE pimple medicine of the 90s, before Accutane took over. Dermatologists have known the anti-aging benefits of Retin-A for years and many skincare experts (who have their own lines, mind you), swear vitamin A is their secret weapon when it comes to their own skin care.

Some bits about Retin-A and other anti-aging products:

1. It's best to use Retin-A under the guidance of a dermatologist. Here in the U.S., it's not an over-the-counter product. Yes, I have to say this, even though I get the stuff over-the-counter in Mexico.
2. You will peel. My skin is currently peeling in patches, a minor annoyance in my quest for dewy, youthful skin. This is typical the first two weeks with Retin-A.
2. Gotta wear sunscreen. Skin is extra-sensitive to the sun. You have to very careful to stay out of the sun when on Retin-A.
3. Stick with it. Many women abandon skincare regimens because they can't stand the redness or peeling and think it's not working.

Hollywood Secrets to Looking Younger

"It is said that no star is a heroine to her makeup artist." -- Richard Corliss, American writer

If you are like me, you're constantly surprised when you find out how old some of Hollywood's hottest and still-working celebrities are.

Who knew Susan Sarandon was past 60, or Christie Brinkley (a face of Cover Girl) was born in 1954. Of course, looking young in Hollywood means avoiding an early, forced retirement, but just what ARE these celebrity secrets? And better yet, how can you and I benefit from what they use and what they know?

Keeping skin in gorgeous condition is an incredibly time-consuming and expensive job requirement for the typical celebrity. But here are a few secrets I've uncovered for you, plus tips on how you too can get younger-looking skin.

Secret 1: Injectable fillers

To treat those deep smile lines, forehead wrinkles and crow's feet, celebrities turn to hyaluronic-acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm or Juvederm Ultra Plus (for deeper lines).

Procedures must be done by a professional and the cost is $600-$1,000 a needle. Results can last up to six months.

Secret 2: Botox is still hot

Botox is certainly not a secret, but according to dermatologist Tina Alster of Washington, D.C., in the April 2007 issue of Harper's Bazaar, "Botox remains the gold standard for treating crow's lines and wrinkles."

Botox works by paralyzing the muscles beneath wrinkles. If used too much, Botox use can be obvious, as witnessed by several actresses including Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman and Marcia Cross who've fallen victim to "unmoveable forehead" jokes. Botox costs about $300-$500 per treated area. Results last three to six months.

Secret 3: They go under the laser

As we age, our collage production slows down significantly making our faces appear thinner, and more gaunt (on the plus side, collagen depletion shows off great bone structure). Boosting collagen production is big business in Hollywood and more and more celebs are turning to laser skin resurfacing to boost theirs.

How it works: Lasers such as Fraxel -- currently the most popular laser on the market -- are able to penetrate deep within the skin to treat damaged skin. According to Fraxel's official Website, the laser creates microscopic tears deep within the skin which trigger the body to naturally produce more collagen in the repairing process.

Cost is about $1,000 a session. Like most laser therapies (including hair removal, which I underwent), you'll need three to five sessions spaced about a month apart.

Secret 4: They get chemical peels

Yes, yes, yes, of course celebrities (the male ones as well) are constantly getting eye lifts and face lifts and the bags removed from under their eyes, but what so many of them are doing that you and I aren't is exfoliating, chemically. And therein lies our secret number four.

Ever notice how your foundation looks when it's applied to scaly, dry skin? You look older and ashier. The celebrities sheer a few years off their faces in under an hour with a professional chemical peel. Chemical peels work by removing the damaged top layers of skin.

A mild, glycolic acid chemical peel will set you back $150-$300, but you can get similar results in just one month with MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel. It's about $68 for 30 daily applications.

Secret 5: Professional makeup artists do their makeup for big events

OK so you and I can't have Mally Roncal on hand every morning before we go to work, but even celebrities don't go out in full makeup every day. But for big events? Oh yes they do.

You and I can look red carpet perfect before events by hitting the makeup counters at department stores or beauty salons.

Usually it's proper etiquette to buy a few products when you get your makeup done at a beauty counter, but for a fee you can have your makeup done professionally (I advise calling ahead to schedule an appointment). If there's no charge, at least tip well. I had my makeup done professionally at the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman and as I walked home a group of men outside a gay bar practically ransacked me with compliments. It made my night.

Secret 6: They are filmed in tons of makeup

I have seen the paparrazi shots of Heidi Klum without makeup and can I just say Girl Ain't All That. She's pretty of course, but she had major undereye circles and pasty skin. Then there's my all-time favorite story about Tyra Banks told to me by a security guard at NY's Bliss Spa. Even Tyra admits she's not all that. So what can you learn from this? A little bit of the right makeup can go a long way.

Secret 7: They stay out of the sun

Nicole Kidman is famously afraid of the sun. She stays out of it at all costs. In fact, many celebrities simply avoid that sun by wearing hats and slathering on sunscreen. They know the sun is the No. 1 cause of prematurely aging skin.

You and I can avoid the sun by not only wearing hats, but getting in the habit of wearing sunscreen every day, no matter the weather. (I'm also a big fan of teaching sons and daughters about sunscreen very early in life).

Secret 8: They are all about retinols

To keep fine lines from becoming wrinkles, actresses in their 20s turn to retinoid creams. I have read of dermatologists who swear of all the antioxidants, peels, scrubs and injections, retinoids are the best way to wipe years off your face.

Turn Back Time: Are These Products the Secret to Youthful Skin?

"There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few years ago a friend suggested I consider Retin-A as an anti-aging lotion. "Why in the world would you use this stuff? You have flawless skin?" I told her. I had always thought of Retin-A as something found only in the medicine cabinets of pimply teens. "Honey," she said, "This is WHY I have flawless skin."

My friend was about a decade older than me -- in her late-30s -- and she wasn't the first flawless-skinned woman I would come to know whose dermatologist prescribed Retin-A as a way to combat fine lines and wrinkles.

Now that I'm in the business of beauty and skincare, I know much more about products that really do turn back time, so to say, and reduce lines and wrinkles.

The Secret to Youth: Collagen

Collagen is the key to healthy skin that tends to age well. The change in the pH level of the skin caused by just a few uses of a retinoid product such as Retin-A or AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) can help generate collagen. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in the October 2005 issue of O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores."

The best way to keep collagen from breaking down is avoiding the sun at all costs. Dermatologists warn that up to 90 percent of wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage are caused by sun exposure. This is why they're always preaching the use of sunscreen . However, if the damage is done, you can try to recoup the gorgeous skin you once had. To find out your best option, read on.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A really cuts down on the wrinkles, perhaps better than any other type of skin product. I would recommend skipping the over-the-counter vitamin A products and consider getting a prescription from your doctor for Retin-A, Renova or Retin-A Micro. These contain the ingredient "tretinoin," which is proven more effective on fine lines and wrinkles than retinol, found in most OTC products.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't expose skin to the sun when using Retin-A, Renova or Retin-A Micro. You'll want to cover up with sunscreen and a hat. Vitamin A makes skin very susceptible to skin damage.

Retinoids

Retinoids are the tamer, non-prescription versions of the vitamin A derivatives listed above. Retinoids contain a less harsh Vitamin A derivative called retinol. These products are less potent and therefore great for weekly upkeep.

Alpha & Beta Hydroxy Acids

AHAs and BHAs are better options for women who find the Vitamin A products dry out their skin. AHAs are acid extracts that tend to be more moisturizing. You'll want to look for products that include glycolic (an acid extract from sugarcane), lactic (milk) or citric (citrus fruits).

Diminish Signs of Fine Lines with a 3-Step Program

If you have a big event like a wedding (or your high school reunion) and want gorgeous skin, you can follow a three-step program many celebrities use to get ready for awards shows and red carpet premieres.

Renowned dermatologist Harold Lancer, MD, spilled his three-step secret for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to Harper's Bazaar a few years ago and I kept the article so I can share his secrets with you. Here's how to get glowing skin just in time for a special event.

Step 1: Cleanse with a salicylic acid cleanser

Lancer suggests you cleanse face, neck and upper chest with a 2% salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid cleansers are typically used to treat acne, but work well as exfoliants by getting rid of dead skin cells.

Angela Palmer, About.com's expert on acne, explains more about salicylic acid in this article.

Check out my list of the best salicylic acid cleansers available, including a few you can get at any local drugstore.

Step 2: Follow cleanser with a five percent glycolic acid toner

Lancer suggests this second step to bring blood flow to your face, neck and chest. While I wouldn't recommend toners for every day use (they can be drying on anything but the oiliest of skin), I researched toners and can recommend Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner.

Step 3: Finish with a slather of moisturizer

The secret here is using the right moisturizer. Lancer suggests an aloe-vera/retinol-blend moisturizer (he suggests you look for the ingredient "retinol palmitate"). This ingredient tightens pores and plumps skin.

How to Get Rid of Wrinkles

No one likes wrinkles, which are caused when collagen breaks down deep in your dermis, far below the skin's top layer. The key to improving or preventing wrinkles is two-fold: You need to stimulate collagen production while keeping free radicals such as the sun, stress and pollution from causing more damage. You have a number of options available to help you turn back time a bit without going under the knife.

Here's a rundown of 5 options currently on the market that are created to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Better yet, most of these can be bought over-the-counter:

1. Sunscreen. Sun damage is the #1 cause of wrinkles. Wonder what your skin would look like if it was never exposed to the sun? Look at your bottom. Wrinkle-free, eh? That's what your skin would look like it it was kept under cover all the time as well. A good rule of thumb: If it's daylight outside, you need sunscreen, no matter how cloudy it is. In the June, 2005 issue of InStyle Magazine, Dr. Fredric Brandt, dermatologist to the stars, suggests using a 'two-finger scoop' of sunscreen daily to the face & neck. Also, don't forget the top of your hands. Dermatologists report seeing women with young faces & old hands all the time. Check out this list of the best sunscreens on the market. Note which sunscreen is the absolute best on the market.

2. Vitamin A (retinoid) creams. To prevent wrinkles or keep them from worsening, look for products containing vitamin A like prescription Retin-A, Differin or Renova.

Used nightly (or every other night), vitamin A creams stimulate collagen renewal and prevent skin cells from breaking down. Women in their 20s and early 30s can use these to keep fine lines from turning into deeper furrows. I've been trying one percent Retin-A on my skin for the past month and I've noticed a marked improvement even though best results can be seen in about 6 months. (Just make sure you never go out without sunscreen when you're on these Vitamin A products, your skin is extra susceptible to sun damage).

Don't want to go to a doc? A great over-the-counter anti-wrinkle product is RoC Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. Matrixyl is a newer ingredient that is becoming very popular and is touted as being great for sensitive skin. Check this list of products containing Matrixyl.

3. Alpha-hydroxy acids or microdermabrasion. If you're in your mid-30s & worried about wrinkles you might try exfoliating once a week with a alpha-hydroxy acid (AHAs) or a microdermabrasion kit. Don't use both & be careful not to over-exfoliate. Chemical exfoliators (the AHAs) work great on oily or combination skin, while the physical scrubs (microdermabrasion) are great for very sensitive skin (make sure it's in a creamy base).

AHA's are glycolic or lactic acid formulated to increase collagen in sun-damaged skin. They are also known to reduce pore size, redness, blotchiness & fine lines. I love MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel ($68 for 30 applications at Sephora).

Microdermabrasives smooth fine lines & get rid of dead skin. I've tried several kits & like Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion In A Jar. I also like Lancome's RESURFACE-C MICRODERMABRASION Resurface-C Microdermabrasion Kit. A less expensive, but still excellent option, is L'Oreal ReFinish Microdermabrasion Kit.

4. Antioxidants. Free radicals -- the unstable oxygen molecules produced by pollution, stress & sun -- are a skincare nightmare. They attack healthy skin cells & cause collagen breakdown, all of which lead to wrinkles. Antioxidants like green tea, vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10 work together to neutralize free radicals. A cocktail of these antioxidants are like a multi-vitamin for skin, according to dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.

The most popular antioxidant on the market right now is prescription Prevage, a cream that is made with idebenone, a synthetic antioxidant and 'star chemical' dermatologists swear by. Another excellent (over-the-counter) option is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum, which clinical studies show reduced sunburned cells by a whopping 96 percent. Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment also gets high marks from dermatologists.

How to use it? Use antioxidants both orally and topically. IN Elle Magazine, dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, swears by Heliocare vitamins. Topically, antioxidants are great for bolstering UV protection. Apply an antioxidant serum containing vitamins C or E, Co-Q, alpha-lipoic acid, grean or white tea, pomegranate or idebenone under your sunscreen (see products below). The antioxidants will fight those free radicals the sun generates. Some great products include:
1. Nivea Visage All Around Protection Oil Free SPF 15 Lotion
2. Estee Lauder Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Crème SPF 15 ($45)
3. Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer SPF 25 ($39.50)
4. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Treatment
5. DDF Daily Matte SPF 15
6. Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer With White Tea

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals caused by UV rays. Free radicals are those buggers responsible for fine lines, age spots and skin cancer. Great antioxidants include Prevage cream available by prescription. We also read great things about Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid serum. This boosts the skin's protection against UV rays.

What is Botox?

What is Botox? Botox is basically a purified form of botulinum toxin. According to the November 2006 issue of O Magazine, when injected Botox smooths lines by 'blocking nerve impulses that trigger wrinkle-causing muscle contractions.' Unfortunately the results wear off after three to six months and at a cost of $300, that can become a pricey addiction.

A recent study suggests women who get Botox starting in their late 20s develop fewer wrinkles than women who age naturally. The national study (probably funded by the pharmaceutical company that creates it) used twins in their experiment. The found the twin who got Botox injections in her mid-20s developed fewer lines than her sister.

Botox is becoming increasingly more popular. In November, 2006, the New York Times reported a clinic that offers Botox has opened in a Dallas mall. Expect more of these to crop up over the next year or so.